JP2023027978A - Power receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a power receptacle capable of quickly interrupting an arc occurring between a fixed contact and a movable contact.SOLUTION: A power receptacle includes a case, a contact device, an operating member, a moving mechanism, a return spring, and a holding mechanism. The contact device includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, and a movable piece. The operating member is movable with respect to the case. The moving mechanism moves the movable piece according to operation of the operating member. The moving mechanism includes a moving member and a return spring. The moving member is movable between a closed position at which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact and an open position at which the movable contact is left away from the fixed contact. The return spring is a separate body from the movable piece, and urges the movable member to the open position. The holding mechanism can hold the moving member at the closed position, and releases a holding state in which the moving member is held at the closed position in accordance with the operation of the operating member. When the holding state is released, the moving member moves from the closed position to the open position by urging force of the return spring.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to power outlets.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, power outlets to which electrical plugs of electrical equipment are connected are known. For example, the power outlet disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a relay and a switch member. A relay includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. The switch member is supported by the power outlet for movement between a connected position and a disconnected position. The fixed contact and the movable contact of the relay are opened and closed according to the movement of the switch member, thereby switching between electrical connection and disconnection between the power source and the power supply terminal.

Japanese Patent No. 5575504

An arc is generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the electrical connection between the power source and the power supply terminal is interrupted. Since the arc generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact affects the service life of the fixed contact and the movable contact and the operation characteristics of the relay, it is preferable to cut off the arc quickly. In the power outlet of Patent Document 1, the opening speed when the movable contact separates from the fixed contact depends only on the restoring force of the leaf spring in which the movable contact is arranged, so there is a possibility that the arc cannot be interrupted quickly. There is

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a power outlet capable of quickly interrupting an arc generated between a fixed contact and a movable contact.

A power outlet according to one aspect of the present invention includes a case, a contact device, an operating member, a moving mechanism, a return spring, and a holding mechanism. The contact device includes a fixed contact, a movable contact facing the fixed contact, and a movable piece to which the movable contact is connected. The operating member is movable with respect to the case. The moving mechanism moves the movable piece according to the operation of the operating member. The moving mechanism includes a moving member and a return spring. The moving member is movable between a closed position that brings the movable contact into contact with the fixed contact and an open position that separates the movable contact from the fixed contact. A return spring is separate from the movable piece and biases the movable member toward the open position. The holding mechanism can hold the moving member at the closed position, and releases the held state in which the moving member is held at the closed position in accordance with the operation of the operating member. When the holding state is released, the moving member moves from the closed position to the open position by the biasing force of the return spring.

In this power outlet, when the movable member held at the closed position is released in response to the operation of the operating member, the movable member moves from the closed position to the open position due to the biasing force of the return spring. Therefore, the movable contact can be separated from the fixed contact more quickly than the case where the separation speed of the movable contact from the fixed contact depends only on the restoring force of the plate spring. That is, since the moving member can be quickly moved from the closed position to the open position by the biasing force of the return spring, the arc generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact can be quickly interrupted. As a result, it is possible to provide a power outlet capable of quickly interrupting an arc generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact.

The return spring may be a coil spring. In this case, the strong restoring force of the coil spring can quickly move the moving member from the closed position to the open position.

The holding mechanism may include a locking pawl that locks the moving member in the closed position. The operating member may include a first operating portion that moves the moving member from the open position to the closed position, and a second operating portion that releases a state in which the moving member is locked at the closed position by the locking claw. In this case, the movable member can be rapidly moved from the closed position to the open position by releasing the locked state of the locking claw with the second operating portion.

The retention mechanism may include a ratchet member and a first biasing member. The ratchet member may include a locking pawl and be rotatable between a holding posture for holding the moving member at the closed position and a release posture for releasing the holding state. The first biasing member may bias the ratchet member in a direction from the release posture toward the holding posture. In this case, since the holding mechanism is constituted by a ratchet mechanism, the moving member can be moved quickly from the closed position to the open position.

The first operating portion may include a locking projection that is locked to the locking pawl when the moving member is moved to the closed position. The first operating portion may be urged in a direction from the closed position to the open position by the return spring via the moving member. In this case, the first operating portion and the moving member can be configured separately, thereby improving the ease of assembly.

The locking pawl may have a plane perpendicular to the direction from the closed position to the open position. In this case, the moving member can be stably held at the closed position.

The first operation portion may move the moving member from the open position to the closed position by being pressed in a direction from the open position to the closed position. In this case, the operability of the first operation section is improved.

The movable piece includes a contact support portion that supports the movable contact, a base portion, and a first fulcrum positioned between the contact support portion and the base portion, and can swing around the first fulcrum. good. The moving member may move the movable contact away from the fixed contact by pressing the base, and move the movable contact toward the fixed contact by pressing the contact support.

The power outlet may further comprise a regulating mechanism. The case may include a recess into which an electrical plug is inserted. The restricting mechanism may restrict movement of the moving member from the open position to the closed position by operating the operating member in a state where the electric plug is not inserted into the recess. In this case, contact between the fixed contact and the movable contact can be prevented when the electric plug is not inserted into the recess.

The retaining mechanism may further include a retaining mechanism that retains the electric plug from the case when the moving member is in the closed position. The retaining mechanism may include a retaining member that can advance and retract toward an engaging hole provided in the electric plug, and a second biasing member that biases the retaining member toward the operating member. The retaining member may include an inclined portion that is pressed against the operating member as the operating member moves. In this case, it is possible to prevent the electric plug from being separated from the power outlet 1 in the energized state.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power outlet capable of quickly interrupting an arc generated between a fixed contact and a movable contact.

1 is a perspective view of a power outlet and electrical plug; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the power outlet cut along a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction; It is the figure which looked at the inside of the case from the back. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the case from the back. It is sectional drawing which cut|disconnected the contact device by the plane orthogonal to an up-down direction. It is the figure which looked at the inside of a contact device from the right side. It is the figure which looked at the inside of a contact device from the right side. It is a perspective view of a moving member. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the case from the back. It is a figure for demonstrating a regulation mechanism and a retaining mechanism. It is a figure for demonstrating a regulation mechanism and a retaining mechanism.

An embodiment of a power outlet 1 according to one aspect of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. When referring to the drawings, the X1 direction is the left direction, the X2 direction is the right direction, the Y1 direction is the forward direction, the Y2 direction is the rearward direction, the Z1 direction is the upward direction, and the Z2 direction is the downward direction. These directions are defined for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the arrangement direction of the power outlet 1 .

The power receptacle 1 is used, for example, in electrical equipment that requires a high capacity direct current, and connects or disconnects the direct current to the electrical equipment. As shown in FIG. 1, a power outlet 1 is inserted with an electrical plug 2 that is connected to electrical equipment. The electric plug 2 is, for example, a plug for DC power supply.

The electric plug 2 includes a plug cover 3 , a cable 4 , an insertion portion 5 , a first plug terminal 6 , a second plug terminal 7 , a plug ground terminal 8 and an engagement hole 9 . Cable 4 extends upward from plug cover 3 . The insertion portion 5 protrudes downward from the plug cover 3 . The insertion portion 5 includes a plug hole 5a (see FIG. 10). The plug hole 5a has a shape recessed upward from below.

The first plug terminal 6, the second plug terminal 7, and the plug ground terminal 8 are made of a conductive material such as copper, and are arranged in the plug hole 5a. The first plug terminal 6 , the second plug terminal 7 and the plug ground terminal 8 protrude below the insertion portion 5 . The first plug terminal 6 and the second plug terminal 7 are separated in the left-right direction. The second plug terminal 7 is arranged to the left of the first plug terminal 6 .

The plug ground terminal 8 is arranged between the first plug terminal 6 and the second plug terminal 7 in the left-right direction. The plug ground terminal 8 is arranged forward of the first plug terminal 6 and the second plug terminal 7 .

The engagement hole 9 is formed on the rear surface of the insertion portion 5 . The engagement hole 9 has a shape that penetrates the rear surface of the insertion portion 5 in the front-rear direction.

The power outlet 1 includes a case 10, a contact device 11, a moving mechanism 12, an operating member 13, and a holding mechanism 14, as shown in FIGS.

The case 10 has a rectangular box shape. The case 10 is made of, for example, an insulating material such as resin. Case 10 includes case body 21 , cover 22 , recess 23 , first insertion hole 24 , second insertion hole 25 , and third insertion hole 26 .

The case body 21 is open rearward. The cover 22 is attached to the rear of the case body 21 so as to close the opening of the case body 21 .

The recess 23 is formed in the upper portion of the case body 21 . The recessed portion 23 has a shape that is recessed downward from above. The recess 23 is fitted with the insertion portion 5 of the electric plug 2 .

The first insertion hole 24 , the second insertion hole 25 and the third insertion hole 26 open upward in the recess 23 and extend downward from the recess 23 . The first plug terminal 6 is inserted into the first insertion hole 24 . The second plug terminal 7 is inserted into the second insertion hole 25 . The plug ground terminal 8 is inserted into the third insertion hole 26 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the power outlet 1 includes a first connection terminal 27 , a second connection terminal 28 and a ground terminal 29 . The first connection terminal 27 is arranged in the first insertion hole 24 and connected to the first plug terminal 6 . The second connection terminal 28 is arranged in the second insertion hole 25 and connected to the second plug terminal 7 . A ground terminal 29 is arranged in the third insertion hole 26 and connected to the plug ground terminal 8 .

The contact device 11 is arranged inside the case 10 . The contact device 11 is arranged in a box-shaped contact case 10a arranged in the case 10, as shown in FIG. The contact device 11 is made of a conductive material.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the contact device 11 includes fixed terminals 31, 32, fixed contacts 33, 34, movable pieces 35, 36, movable contacts 37, 38, and support terminals 39, 40. . 3 and 4, the contact case 10a is omitted.

The fixed terminals 31 and 32 extend vertically. The fixed terminals 31 and 32 are supported by the case 10 . Lower ends of the fixed terminals 31 and 32 protrude downward from the case 10 . The fixed terminal 31 and the fixed terminal 32 are separated in the horizontal direction. The fixed terminal 32 is arranged to the left of the fixed terminal 31 .

The fixed contact 33 is connected to the fixed terminal 31 . The fixed contact 33 is arranged on the rear surface of the fixed terminal 31 .

The fixed contact 34 is connected to the fixed terminal 32 . The fixed contact 34 is arranged on the rear surface of the fixed terminal 32 .

The movable piece 35 extends vertically. The movable piece 35 is arranged behind the fixed terminal 31 . The movable piece 35 is connected to the first connection terminal 27 via the support terminal 39 . As shown in FIG. 6, the movable piece 35 includes a contact support portion 35a, a base portion 35b, and a first fulcrum 35c. The contact support portion 35a extends downward from the first fulcrum 35c. The contact support portion 35 a supports the movable contact 37 . The base 35b extends upward from the first fulcrum 35c. The first fulcrum 35c has a forwardly curved shape.

The movable piece 36 is separated from the movable piece 35 in the horizontal direction. The movable piece 36 is arranged to the left of the movable piece 35 . The movable piece 36 is arranged behind the fixed terminal 32 . The movable piece 36 is connected to the second connection terminal 28 via the support terminal 40 . The movable piece 36 includes a contact support portion 36a, a base portion 36b, and a second fulcrum (not shown). Since the movable piece 36 has the same shape as the movable piece 35, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The movable contact 37 is connected to the movable piece 35 . The movable contact 37 is arranged on the contact support portion 35 a of the movable piece 35 . The movable contact 37 faces the fixed contact 33 in the front-rear direction. The movable contact 37 can contact the fixed contact 33 .

A movable contact 38 is connected to the movable piece 36 . The movable contact 38 is arranged on the contact support portion 36 a of the movable piece 36 . The movable contact 38 faces the fixed contact 34 in the front-rear direction. The movable contact 38 can contact the fixed contact 34 .

The support terminal 39 extends vertically. The support terminal 39 is supported by the contact case 10a. The support terminal 39 is arranged in front of the movable piece 35 . The support terminal 39 supports the movable piece 35 so as to swing around the first fulcrum 35c. The support terminal 39 includes a receiving portion 39 a that supports the first fulcrum 35 c of the movable piece 35 . The receiving portion 39a has a shape that is convexly curved toward the front.

The support terminal 40 is separated from the support terminal 39 in the left-right direction. The support terminal 40 is arranged to the left of the support terminal 39 . The support terminal 40 is supported by the contact case 10a. The support terminal 40 is arranged in front of the movable piece 36 . The support terminal 40 supports the movable piece 36 swingably around the second fulcrum. The support terminal 40 has the same shape as the support terminal 39 . The support terminal 40 includes a receiving portion (not shown) that supports the second fulcrum of the movable piece 36 .

The moving mechanism 12 moves the movable pieces 35 and 36 according to the operation of the operating member 13 . In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 12 swings the movable piece 35 about the first fulcrum 35c and the movable piece 36 about the second fulcrum in response to the operation of the operation member 13 .

Moving mechanism 12 includes a moving member 41 and a return spring 42 . The moving member 41 moves between a closed position in which the movable contacts 37 and 38 are in contact with the fixed contacts 33 and 34 and an open position in which the movable contacts 37 and 38 are separated from the fixed contacts 33 and 34 in accordance with the operation of the operating member 13. Moving. At the open position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the moving member 41 separates the movable contact 37 from the fixed contact 33 and separates the movable contact 38 from the fixed contact 34 . The moving member 41 brings the movable contact 37 into contact with the fixed contact 33 and the movable contact 38 into contact with the fixed contact 34 at the closed position shown in FIGS. The moving member 41 in this embodiment moves up and down according to the operation of the operating member 13 . The moving member 41 is arranged behind the movable pieces 35 and 36 .

As shown in FIG. 8 , the moving member 41 includes a body portion 43 , pushers 44 and 45 , a projecting portion 46 and a first cylindrical portion 47 . The body portion 43 includes a pair of concave grooves 43a. The pair of grooves 43a extends vertically on the rear surface of the body portion 43. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of recessed grooves 43a are guided by vertically extending rail portions 10c provided on the contact case 10a. As a result, the moving member 41 moves vertically along the rail portion 10c.

The pusher 44 protrudes downward from the body portion 43 . The pusher 44 is arranged behind the movable piece 35 . The pusher 44 protrudes from the body portion 43 toward the movable piece 35 and presses the movable piece 35 .

The pusher 45 protrudes downward from the body portion 43 . The pusher 45 is arranged behind the movable piece 36 . The pusher 45 protrudes from the body portion 43 toward the movable piece 36 and presses the movable piece 36 .

The projecting portion 46 is arranged between the pusher 44 and the pusher 45 in the left-right direction. The protruding portion 46 protrudes upward from the body portion 43 .

The first cylindrical portion 47 protrudes downward from the body portion 43 . The first cylindrical portion 47 accommodates part of the return spring 42 .

The return spring 42 is separate from the movable pieces 35 and 36, and biases the moving member 41 toward the open position. The return spring 42 in this embodiment is a coil spring. The return spring 42 is arranged below the body portion 43 of the moving member 41 . The return spring 42 is arranged inside the first cylindrical portion 47 and the second cylindrical portion 10b (see FIG. 5) provided in the contact case 10a. The second cylindrical portion 10b is formed to protrude upward from the lower portion of the contact case 10a.

The return spring 42 is protected from arcs generated between the fixed contacts 33, 34 and the movable contacts 37, 38 by the first cylindrical portion 47 and the second cylindrical portion 10b. The second cylindrical portion 10b may be configured to guide the movement of the first cylindrical portion 47 in the vertical direction. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the first cylindrical portion 47 and the second cylindrical portion 10b are omitted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a permanent magnet 30 for extending arcs generated between fixed contacts 33, 34 and movable contacts 37, 38 is arranged around the contact case 10a.

The operation member 13 is supported by the case 10 so as to be movable with respect to the case 10 . The operating member 13 is arranged behind the recess 23 of the case 10 . The operating member 13 protrudes from the upper surface of the case 10 .

The operating member 13 includes a first operating portion 51 and a second operating portion 52 . The first operation portion 51 is a push-type operation button, and is vertically movable between a first position shown in FIG. 3 and a second position shown in FIG. The first operating portion 51 extends vertically. The first operating portion 51 is connected to the moving member 41 . In this embodiment, the first operating portion 51 is arranged above the projecting portion 46 of the moving member 41 and is in contact with the upper surface of the projecting portion 46 . The first operating portion 51 is urged toward the first position via the moving member 41 by the return spring 42 .

The first operating portion 51 moves the moving member 41 from the open position to the closed position. Specifically, when the moving member 41 is at the open position, the first operating portion 51 is at the first position. When the moving member 41 is at the closed position, the first operating portion 51 is at the second position. When the first operating portion 51 is pressed to move from the first position to the second position, the first operating portion 51 presses the projecting portion 46 of the moving member 41 . As a result, the return spring 42 is compressed and the moving member 41 moves from the open position to the closed position.

The first operating portion 51 includes a main body portion 51a, a locking projection 51b, a recessed portion 51c, and a pressing projection 51d. The body portion 51a extends vertically. The locking projection 51b protrudes rightward from the body portion 51a. The upper surface of the locking projection 51b has a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The concave portion 51c is formed on the rear surface of the main body portion 51a. The recess 51c has a shape recessed from the rear to the front. The pressing projection 51d protrudes forward from the body portion 51a.

The second operation portion 52 is a slide-type operation button, and is movable in the horizontal direction between a third position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a fourth position shown in FIG. The second operating portion 52 is connected to the holding mechanism 14 . The second operating portion 52 is biased toward the third position by the holding mechanism 14 . The second operating portion 52 includes a pressing portion 52a. The pressing portion 52 a is arranged inside the case 10 . The pressing portion 52a has an arcuate tip.

The holding mechanism 14 can hold the moving member 41 at the closed position, and releases the holding state in which the moving member 41 is held at the closed position according to the operation of the operation member 13 . In the present embodiment, the holding mechanism 14 holds the moving member 41 at the closed position or releases the holding state in which the moving member 41 is held at the closed position via the first operating portion 51 according to the operation of the operating member 13 . The holding mechanism 14 permits movement of the first operating portion 51 from the first position to the second position, and restricts movement of the first operating portion 51 from the second position to the first position. The holding mechanism 14 in this embodiment functions as a so-called ratchet mechanism.

The holding mechanism 14 includes a support shaft 61 , a ratchet member 62 and a biasing member 63 . The support shaft 61 is fixed with respect to the case 10 . The support shaft 61 extends in the front-rear direction.

The ratchet member 62 is supported by the support shaft 61 . The ratchet member 62 rotates around the support shaft 61 . The ratchet member 62 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise around the support shaft 61 in FIG. 3, for example. The ratchet member 62 is rotatable between the holding posture shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the releasing posture shown in FIG. In the holding posture, the ratchet member 62 can hold the first operating portion 51 at the second position. In the released posture, the ratchet member 62 does not hold the first operating portion 51 at the second position.

The ratchet member 62 includes a locking pawl 62a and a contact portion 62b. The locking pawl 62 a is formed at the lower end of the ratchet member 62 . The lower surface of the locking claw 62a has a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The locking claw 62a is pushed by the locking projection 51b of the first operating portion 51 and moves away from the locking projection 51b when the first operating portion 51 moves from the first position to the second position. . This allows the movement of the first operating portion 51 from the first position to the second position. As the first operation portion 51 moves to the second position, the locking claw 62a moves above the locking projection 51b, and the lower surface of the locking claw 62a and the upper surface of the locking projection 51b come into contact with each other. . As a result, the locking projection 51b is locked by the locking claw 62a, and the first operating portion 51 is held at the second position.

The contact portion 62b contacts the pressing portion 52a of the second operating portion 52, and is pressed by the pressing portion 52a as the second operating portion 52 moves from the third position to the fourth position. This causes the ratchet member 62 to move from the holding position to the releasing position. When the operation of the second operating portion 52 is stopped, the second operating portion 52 is pressed by the contact portion 62b and returns to the third position.

The biasing member 63 is, for example, a torsion coil spring. The biasing member 63 biases the ratchet member 62 from the release posture toward the holding posture. The biasing member 63 biases the ratchet member 62 clockwise in FIG. The biasing member 63 biases the second operating portion 52 toward the third position via the ratchet member 62 .

The power outlet 1 includes a regulation mechanism 15 and a retaining mechanism 16, as shown in FIGS.

The restriction mechanism 15 restricts movement of the first operation portion 51 of the operation member 13 from the first position to the second position when the electric plug 2 is not inserted into the power outlet 1 . That is, the restriction mechanism 15 restricts the moving member 41 from moving from the open position to the closed position when the electric plug 2 is not inserted into the power outlet 1 . The restriction mechanism 15 allows the first operation portion 51 of the operation member 13 to move from the first position to the second position when the electric plug 2 is not inserted into the power outlet 1 .

Regulation mechanism 15 includes a regulation member 71 and a biasing member 72 . The restricting member 71 is supported so as to be movable only in the front-rear direction with respect to the case 10 . The regulating member 71 is U-shaped when viewed from above. The restricting member 71 is movable in the front-rear direction between an intrusion position shown in FIG. 2 and a retracted position shown in FIG. Note that the restricting member 71 is omitted in FIGS. 3 and 4 .

The regulating member 71 includes a central portion 71a, a pair of extending portions 71b, and locking protrusions 71c. The central portion 71a extends in the left-right direction. The central portion 71 a is arranged behind the first operating portion 51 . The pair of extending portions 71 b extends forward from both ends of the center portion 71 a in the left-right direction toward the recess 23 of the case 10 . The ends of the pair of extending portions 71b are arranged in the concave portion 23 of the case 10, and the upper surface thereof is formed in an arc shape. The locking projection 71c protrudes forward from the central portion 71a. The locking projection 71 c can be engaged with the recess 51 c of the first operating portion 51 . The biasing member 72 biases the restricting member 71 toward the intrusion position. In this embodiment, the biasing member 72 is configured by a pair of coil springs.

When the electric plug 2 is not inserted into the power receptacle 1 , the restricting member 71 is in the intrusion position, and the locking protrusion 71 c engages with the recessed portion 51 c of the first operating portion 51 . This restricts the movement of the first operating portion 51 from the first position to the second position. When the electric plug 2 is inserted into the power outlet 1, the tips of the pair of extending portions 71b of the regulating member 71 are pushed by the insertion portion 5 of the electric plug 2 and move backward, and the regulating member 71 moves to the retracted position. do. As a result, the locking projection 71c is disengaged from the recessed portion 51c of the first operating portion 51, allowing the first operating portion 51 to move from the first position to the second position. When the electric plug 2 is pulled out from the power outlet 1, the restricting member 71 is moved forward by the biasing force of the biasing member 82, and the restricting member 71 returns to the intrusion position.

The retaining mechanism 16 prevents the electrical plug 2 and the power outlet 1 from being separated in an energized state. The retaining mechanism 16 retains the electric plug 2 from the power outlet 1 when the first operating portion 51 is at the second position. That is, the retaining mechanism 16 retains the electric plug 2 from the power outlet 1 when the moving member 41 is at the closed position.

The retaining mechanism 16 includes a retaining member 81 and a biasing member 82 . The retaining member 81 is supported so as to be movable only in the front-rear direction with respect to the case 10 . The retaining member 81 can move forward and backward toward the engaging hole 9 of the electric plug 2 . The retaining member 81 includes an inclined portion 81a and a locking projection 81c. The inclined portion 81a is pressed by the pressing projection 51d of the first operating portion 51 when the first operating portion 51 moves from the first position to the second position. As a result, the retaining member 81 moves forward, and the locking projection 81 c enters the recess 23 of the case 10 . The locking projection 72c that has entered the recess 23 engages with the engagement hole 9 of the electrical plug 2. As shown in FIG. As a result, upward movement of the electric plug 2 is restricted, and the electric plug 2 is prevented from coming off from the power outlet 1 . The biasing member 82 biases the retaining member 81 toward the first operating portion 51 .

Next, a connection operation and a disconnection operation when the first operation portion 51 and the second operation portion 52 of the operation member 13 of the power outlet 1 are operated while the electric plug 2 is inserted into the power outlet 1 will be described. do.

When the first operating portion 51 is at the first position, the moving member 41 is at the open position. In this state, the pusher 44 presses the base 35b of the movable piece 35, the pusher 45 presses the base 36b of the movable piece 36, and the movable contacts 37, 38 are separated from the fixed contacts 33, 34. .

When the first operating portion 51 is pressed and moved from the first position to the second position against the biasing force of the return spring 42, the moving member 41 is pressed by the first operating portion 51 and moves from the open position to the closed position. Moving. In this state, the pusher 44 presses the contact support portion 35a of the movable piece 35, the pusher 45 presses the contact support portion 36a of the movable piece 36, and the movable contacts 37 and 38 are connected to the fixed contacts 33 and 34. Contact. When the pressing operation of the first operating portion 51 is stopped, the first operating portion 51 is held at the second position by the holding mechanism 14 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking projection 51b of the first operating portion 51 is locked to the locking pawl 62a of the ratchet member 62, and the first operating portion 51 is held at the second position. As a result, the moving member 41 is held at the closed position via the first operating portion 51, so that the state in which the movable contacts 37 and 38 are in contact with the fixed contacts 33 and 34 is maintained.

When the second operating portion 52 is slid from the third position to the fourth position while the first operating portion 51 is held at the second position, the ratchet member 62 is moved to the second operating position as shown in FIG. Pressed by the pressing portion 52a of the portion 52, the ratchet member 62 moves from the holding position to the releasing position. As a result, the engaging projection 51b of the first operating portion 51 and the engaging pawl 62a of the ratchet member 62 are disengaged, and the biasing force of the return spring 42 moves the moving member 41 to the open position, thereby performing the first operation. Part 51 moves to the first position. As a result, the movable contacts 37 and 38 are separated from the fixed contacts 33 and 34 .

In the power outlet 1 configured as described above, when the state in which the moving member 41 is held at the closed position is released in accordance with the operation of the operating member 13, the biasing force of the return spring 42 moves the moving member 41 from the closed position to the open position. Moving. Therefore, the movable contacts 37, 38 are separated from the fixed contacts 33, 34 more quickly than the case where the separation speed of the movable contacts 37, 38 from the fixed contacts 33, 34 depends only on the restoring force of the leaf spring. It can be released quickly. That is, since the moving member 41 can be quickly moved from the closed position to the open position by the urging force of the return spring 42, the arc generated between the fixed contacts 33, 34 and the movable contacts 37, 38 can be cut off quickly. can.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

In the above embodiment, the operating member 13 includes the first operating section 51 and the second operating section 52, but the operating member 13 may be composed of a single operating section. The operating member 13 may be composed of a rotary ratchet mechanism employed in, for example, a knock-type ballpoint pen. Further, the operating member 13 may be a lever type switch or a rocker switch.

Although the first operating portion 51 and the moving member 41 are separated in the above embodiment, the first operating portion 51 and the moving member 41 may be integrated.

1 Power outlet 10 Case 11 Contact device 31, 32 Fixed terminals 33, 34 Fixed contacts 35, 36 Movable piece 13 Operating member 14 Holding mechanism 15 Regulating mechanism 16 Retaining mechanism 42 Return spring 51 First operating part 52 Second operating part 62 Ratchet member 62a Locking pawl 63 Biasing member (an example of a first biasing member)

Claims (10)

a case;
a contact device including a fixed contact, a movable contact facing the fixed contact, and a movable piece connected to the movable contact;
an operating member movable with respect to the case;
a movable member movable between a closed position where the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact and an open position where the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact; a moving mechanism including a return spring that biases the movable piece toward the open position, the moving mechanism moving the movable piece according to the operation of the operating member;
a holding mechanism capable of holding the moving member at the closed position, and releasing the held state in which the moving member is held at the closed position in accordance with the operation of the operating member;
with
When the holding state is released, the moving member moves from the closed position to the open position by the biasing force of the return spring.
power outlet.
wherein the return spring is a coil spring;
A power outlet according to claim 1.
the holding mechanism includes a locking pawl that locks the moving member at the closed position;
The operating member includes a first operating portion that moves the moving member from the open position to the closed position, and a second operating portion that releases a state in which the moving member is locked at the closed position by the locking claw. and including
3. A power outlet according to claim 1 or 2.
The holding mechanism is
a ratchet member including the locking pawl and rotatable between a holding posture for holding the moving member at the closed position and a release posture for releasing the holding state;
a first biasing member that biases the ratchet member in a direction from the release posture toward the holding posture;
including,
4. A power outlet according to claim 3.
The first operating portion includes an engaging projection that is engaged with the engaging pawl when the moving member is moved to the closed position, and the return spring moves from the closed position through the moving member. biased in a direction toward the open position;
A power outlet according to claim 3 or 4.
The locking pawl has a plane orthogonal to a direction from the closed position to the open position,
6. A power outlet according to any one of claims 3-5.
The first operation portion moves the moving member from the open position to the closed position by being pressed in a direction from the open position to the closed position.
7. A power outlet according to any one of claims 3-6.
The movable piece includes a contact support portion that supports the movable contact, a base portion, and a first fulcrum positioned between the contact support portion and the base portion, and is capable of swinging about the first fulcrum. and
The moving member presses the base portion to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact, and presses the contact support portion to move the movable contact toward the fixed contact. let
8. A power outlet according to any one of claims 1-7.
further equipped with a regulatory mechanism,
the case includes a recess into which an electrical plug is inserted;
The restriction mechanism restricts movement of the moving member from the open position to the closed position by operating the operation member when the electrical plug is not inserted into the recess.
9. A power outlet according to any one of claims 1-8.
further comprising a retaining mechanism for retaining the electric plug from the case when the moving member is in the closed position;
The retaining mechanism includes a retaining member that can advance and retract toward an engagement hole provided in the electric plug, and a second biasing member that biases the retaining member toward the operation member,
The retaining member includes an inclined portion that is pressed against the operating member according to movement of the operating member,
10. A power outlet according to any one of claims 1-9.

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